The structure of the services index and definitions of the terms contained
herein were originally published in A Taxonomy of Human Services: A Conceptual Framework
with Standardized Terminology and Definitions for the Field by the Information and
Referral Federation of Los Angeles County, Inc., 3035 Tyler Ave., El Monte, CA 91731;
Copyright (c) 1983, 1987, 1991. No part of this listing of human services terms and
definitions may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or
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Programs that offer diagnostic and treatment services that are provided by physicians who have special training and expertise in a clinical area of practice which focuses on a specific age group (e.g., geriatrics, pediatrics), an organ or organ system of the body (e.g., internal medicine, obstetrics/gynecology) or on complex scientific techniques developed to diagnose or treat certain types of disorders (e.g., nuclear medicine, radiology).Navigation Tips [+/-]

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Program that is staffed by specialists who have expertise in using operative procedures to alleviate problems when a cure is unlikely using medication alone. General surgery can be used for routine procedures performed in a physician’s office, such as a vasectomy, or for more complicated operations requiring a medical team in a hospital setting such as laparoscopic cholecystectomy (removal of the gallbladder). Areas of the body treated by general surgery include the stomach, liver, intestines, appendix, breasts, thyroid gland, salivary glands, some arteries and veins, and the skin.

Program that is staffed by specialists who provide comprehensive diagnostic, treatment and management services for people who have a physical disability, either individually or as the leader of an interdisciplinary team. Physical medicine and rehabilitation specialists (also known as physiatrists) focus on restoring function using physical means rather than surgery. They prescribe medication, order assistive devices such as a brace or an artificial limb, recommend therapy (e.g., heat and cold, electrotherapies, trigger point injections, massage, biofeedback and traction) and set up exercise programs. Problems most commonly treated by physiatrists include acute and chronic pain, sports injuries (joint injuries, sprains and strains), injuries to the spine or spinal cord, neck injuries, tendonitis, pinched nerves, peripheral nerve injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome, traumatic brain injury, paraplegia, quadriplegia, arthritis and neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis, polio and ALS. Physiatrists practice in rehabilitation centers, hospitals and private offices; and may have a broad practice or specialize in a particular area such as pediatrics, sports medicine, geriatric medicine or brain injury.